Claude Fernando ,Brampton Canada.

No wonder, It was the happiestƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and exhilaratedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  day for Most Rev, PannasaraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  thera ,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  chiefƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Buddhist prelate in Canada and HeadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  priest of Brampton Buddhist Mission centre, to celebrate VesakƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  festival in BramptonƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  on May 19^th ,20^th and 21^st .with illuminated Vesak ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pandal ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (about 35 feet in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ height )which had been erected first time in Canada.

Rev .Sarada theraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  is assistingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to Rev Pannasara for religious affairs in Buddhist centre, is the brainchild of this magnificent creation.

The Vesak pandal was put up in front of the LionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s club hall in Avandale road,Brampton. Story displayed in the pandal was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-sama jathakaya( ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ peace) andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ItƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s being toldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to the viewers from theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  loud speakersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  fixed at ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the sides of the pandals.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Gouthama Lord BuddhaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ holy picture was drawnƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  top of the pandal. No words to say It was very admirable and spiritual ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ momentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for devotees.

Vesak flags lines wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  shown around the pandal . Absolutely phenomenal seen .

Big crowd gatheredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to view pandal not only ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the devotees living in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ BramptonƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  but also huge crowd from ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ surrounding areas such as Toronto,Mississauga,Hamilton,Burlington,Malton ,Caldon etc.
The Members of dayaka sabawa (committee) ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Susantha Rajapaksha,Praneeth Rajapaksha,Ajantha Dias,Bandula Marasinghe,Edward Karunathialka ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and all others ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seen busy to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ get organized the place to pave ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the way for participants ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to get ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an opportunity to approach the place. As a participant ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I noticed Rev.Pannasara thera ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was cordially meeting with most devoteesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  on that greatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Vesak commemoratingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  day..

Last day(May 21^st) was dedicated for alms giving, observing sil,blessings ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and other main religious events. Famous vocalist Kithsiri Jayasekra who recently migrated to Canada joined the ceremony ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and performed a kind of mediation programme called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-relaxationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ for mental recovery for the gathering.

Religious songs were sung by famous key board player/singer ,Kapila Samarasinghe(ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-adwan woo denathin galenaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚-song of Amaradewa).and Gamini Abeysekara(ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-meth mal pibidewaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚- song of Morris Dahanayaka)).
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka consulateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  General ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Karu ParanawithanaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  was the chief guest on last day of festival. He made a speech and thanked Rev PanasaraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  thera ,Rev.Sarada thera and Buddhist devotees to engage in such a spiritual Vesak celebration. On behalf of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ dayaka sabhawa ,Secretary ,Bandula Marasinghe thanked ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and expressed his gratitude everyone who contributed their kindness for this tremendous task.

It was actually ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ very significantƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and extraordinary day ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for Buddhist community as well as Sri lankan Catholic Community living in this area for having celebrated such a religious event.